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Igbineweka NE, van Loon JJWA. Gene-environmental influence of space and microgravity on red blood cells with sickle cell disease. NPJ Genom Med 2024; 9:44. [PMID: 39349487 PMCID: PMC11442622 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-024-00427-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 10/02/2024] Open
Abstract
A fundamental question in human biology and for hematological disease is how do complex gene-environment interactions lead to individual disease outcome? This is no less the case for sickle cell disease (SCD), a monogenic disorder of Mendelian inheritance, both clinical course, severity, and treatment response, is variable amongst affected individuals. New insight and discovery often lie between the intersection of seemingly disparate disciplines. Recently, opportunities for space medicine have flourished and have offered a new paradigm for study. Two recent Nature papers have shown that hemolysis and oxidative stress play key mechanistic roles in erythrocyte pathogenesis during spaceflight. This paper reviews existing genetic and environmental modifiers of the sickle cell disease phenotype. It reviews evidence for erythrocyte pathology in microgravity environments and demonstrates why this may be relevant for the unique gene-environment interaction of the SCD phenotype. It also introduces the hematology and scientific community to methodological tools for evaluation in space and microgravity research. The increasing understanding of space biology may yield insight into gene-environment influences and new treatment paradigms in SCD and other hematological disease phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norris E Igbineweka
- Imperial College London, Centre for Haematology, Department of Immunology & Inflammation, Commonwealth Building, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane, London, W12 0NN, UK.
- Department of Haematology, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Denmark Hill, SE5 9RS, London, UK.
| | - Jack J W A van Loon
- Dutch Experiment Support Center (DESC), Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Oral Pathology, Amsterdam Bone Center (ABC), Amsterdam UMC Location VU University Medical Center (VUmc) & Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081, LA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- European Space Agency (ESA), European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), TEC-MMG, Keplerlaan 1, 2201, AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands
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2
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Mišković V, Greco I, Minetti C, Cialdai F, Monici M, Gazzi A, Marcellino J, Samad YA, Delogu LG, Ferrari AC, Iorio CS. Hydrogel mechanical properties in altered gravity. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:83. [PMID: 39117674 PMCID: PMC11310329 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00388-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Exposure to altered gravity influences cellular behaviour in cell cultures. Hydrogels are amongst the most common materials used to produce tissue-engineering scaffolds, and their mechanical properties play a crucial role in cell-matrix interaction. However, little is known about the influence of altered gravity on hydrogel properties. Here we study the mechanical properties of Poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and PEGDA incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) by performing tensile tests in micro and hypergravity during a Parabolic flight campaign, and by comparing them to the same tests performed in Earth gravity. We show that gravity levels do not result in a statistically significant difference in Young's modulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanja Mišković
- Centre for Research and Engineering in Space Technologies, École Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Immacolata Greco
- Centre for Research and Engineering in Space Technologies, École Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christophe Minetti
- Centre for Research and Engineering in Space Technologies, École Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Francesca Cialdai
- ASAcampus Joint Laboratory, ASA Research Division, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences « Mario Serio », University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Monica Monici
- ASAcampus Joint Laboratory, ASA Research Division, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences « Mario Serio », University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Arianna Gazzi
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Yarjan Abdul Samad
- Cambridge Graphene Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, UK
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, Khalifa university of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, 127788, UAE
| | - Lucia Gemma Delogu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Biological Science, Khalifa university of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Andrea C Ferrari
- Cambridge Graphene Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, UK
| | - Carlo Saverio Iorio
- Centre for Research and Engineering in Space Technologies, École Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
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Dubayle D, Vanden-Bossche A, Peixoto T, Morel JL. Hypergravity Increases Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability to Fluorescent Dextran and Antisense Oligonucleotide in Mice. Cells 2023; 12:cells12050734. [PMID: 36899870 PMCID: PMC10000817 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The earliest effect of spaceflight is an alteration in vestibular function due to microgravity. Hypergravity exposure induced by centrifugation is also able to provoke motion sickness. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the crucial interface between the vascular system and the brain to ensure efficient neuronal activity. We developed experimental protocols of hypergravity on C57Bl/6JRJ mice to induce motion sickness and reveal its effects on the BBB. Mice were centrifuged at 2× g for 24 h. Fluorescent dextrans with different sizes (40, 70 and 150 kDa) and fluorescent antisense oligonucleotides (AS) were injected into mice retro-orbitally. The presence of fluorescent molecules was revealed by epifluorescence and confocal microscopies in brain slices. Gene expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR from brain extracts. Only the 70 kDa dextran and AS were detected in the parenchyma of several brain regions, suggesting an alteration in the BBB. Moreover, Ctnnd1, Gja4 and Actn1 were upregulated, whereas Jup, Tjp2, Gja1, Actn2, Actn4, Cdh2 and Ocln genes were downregulated, specifically suggesting a dysregulation in the tight junctions of endothelial cells forming the BBB. Our results confirm the alteration in the BBB after a short period of hypergravity exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Dubayle
- CNRS, INCC, UMR 8002, Université Paris Cité, F-75006 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (D.D.); (J.-L.M.)
| | - Arnaud Vanden-Bossche
- INSERM, SAINBIOSE U1059, Mines Saint-Etienne, Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne, F-42023 Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Tom Peixoto
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-Luc Morel
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
- Correspondence: (D.D.); (J.-L.M.)
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Isasi E, Isasi ME, van Loon JJWA. The application of artificial gravity in medicine and space. Front Physiol 2022; 13:952723. [PMID: 36105282 PMCID: PMC9465481 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.952723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gravity plays a crucial role in physiology. The lack of gravity, like in long duration spaceflight missions, cause pathologies in e.g., the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular deconditioning, immune system deprivation or brain abnormalities, to just mention a few. The application of artificial gravity through short-arm human centrifugation (SAHC) has been studied as a possible countermeasure to treat spaceflight deconditioning. However, hypergravity protocols applied by using SAHC have also been used to treat different, ground-based pathologies. Such gravitational therapies have been applied in Uruguay for more than four decades now. The aim of this overview is to summarize the most important findings about the effects of gravitational therapy in different, mainly vascular based pathologies according to the experience in the Gravitational Therapy Center and to discuss the current research in the field of hypergravity applications in medicine but also as multisystem countermeasure for near weightlessness pathologies. New insight is needed on the use of hypergravity in medicine and space research and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Isasi
- Centro de Terapia Gravitacional, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Histología y Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Maria E. Isasi
- Centro de Terapia Gravitacional, Montevideo, Uruguay
- *Correspondence: Jack J. W. A. van Loon, ; Maria E. Isasi,
| | - Jack J. W. A. van Loon
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Pathology, Amsterdam Movement Sciences & Amsterdam Bone Center (ABC), Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam & Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Life Support and Physical Sciences Section (TEC-MMG), European Space Agency (ESA), European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Noordwijk, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Jack J. W. A. van Loon, ; Maria E. Isasi,
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Jansen ID, van Velzen T, de Vries TJ, Szulcek R, van Loon JJWA. Real-time quantification of osteoclastic resorptive activity by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:921066. [PMID: 36060806 PMCID: PMC9437204 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.921066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In several diseases, bone resorption by osteoclasts is dysregulated. Thus far, no simple technique for real-time measurement of resorption is available. Here, we introduce an impedimetric bioassay for real-time monitoring of resorption by making use of the electrical insulating properties of the resorbable substrate calcium phosphate. Different chemical stimuli were applied to (pre)osteoclasts cultured on a layer of calcium phosphate in multi-well plates containing electrodes. By this, osteoclast activity can be measured continuously over days, and the effects of stimulating or inhibiting factors can be quantified. When cells were cultured in the presence of an inflammatory factor such as IL-1β, the resorptive activity started earlier. The measured decline in resistance was higher at culture day 5 than at cultures with M-CSF or M-CSF + RANKL (M-CSF norm. Resistance = 1, M-CSF + RANKL = 0.7, M-CSF + RANKL + IL-1β = 0.5). However, at day 11, this difference had nearly disappeared. Likewise, bisphosphonates were shown to inhibit osteoclastic activity. Our findings illustrate the importance of real-time monitoring; wherefore, this method has high potential not only for the study of osteoclast resorptive activity in the context of osteoclast function and diseases but also could find application in high-throughput drug-testing studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ineke D.C. Jansen
- Department of Periodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Thijs van Velzen
- Department of Periodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Teun J. de Vries
- Department of Periodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Robert Szulcek
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences (ACS), Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Laboratory of in vitro Modeling Systems of Pulmonary and Thrombotic Diseases, Institute of Physiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jack J. W. A. van Loon
- Life Support and Physical Sciences Section (TEC-MMG), European Space Agency—European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESA-ESTEC), Noordwijk, Netherlands
- DESC (Dutch Experiment Support Center), Amsterdam University Medical Center Location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Center Amsterdam Bone Center (ABC), Amsterdam, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Jack J. W. A. van Loon,
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Simulated Microgravity Increases the Permeability of HUVEC Monolayer through Up-Regulation of Rap1GAP and Decreased Rap2 Activation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020630. [PMID: 35054818 PMCID: PMC8776081 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Space microgravity condition has great physiological influence on astronauts’ health. The interaction of endothelial cells, which control vascular permeability and immune responses, is sensitive to mechanical stress. However, whether microgravity has significant effects on the physiological function of the endothelium has not been investigated. In order to address such a question, a clinostat-based culture model with a HUVEC monolayer being inside the culture vessel under the simulated microgravity (SMG) was established. The transmittance of FITC-tagged dextran was used to estimate the change of integrity of the adherens junction of the HUVEC monolayer. Firstly, we found that the permeability of the HUVEC monolayer was largely increased after SMG treatment. To elucidate the mechanism of the increased permeability of the HUVEC monolayer under SMG, the levels of total expression and activated protein levels of Rap1 and Rap2 in HUVEC cells, which regulate the adherens junction of endothelial cells, were detected by WB and GST pull-down after SMG. As the activation of both Rap1 and Rap2 was significantly decreased under SMG, the expression of Rap1GEF1 (C3G) and Rap1GAP in HUVECs, which regulate the activation of them, was further determined. The results indicate that both C3G and Rap1GAP showed a time-dependent increase with the expression of Rap1GAP being dominant at 48 h after SMG. The down-regulation of the expression of junctional proteins, VE-cadherin and β-catenin, in HUVEC cells was also confirmed by WB and immunofluorescence after SMG. To clarify whether up-regulation of Rap1GAP is necessary for the increased permeability of the HUVEC monolayer after SMG, the expression of Rap1GAP was knocked down by Rap1GAP-shRNA, and the change of permeability of the HUVEC monolayer was detected. The results indicate that knock-down of Rap1GAP reduced SMG-induced leaking of the HUVEC monolayer in a time-dependent manner. In total, our results indicate that the Rap1GAP-Rap signal axis was necessary for the increased permeability of the HUVEC monolayer along with the down-regulation of junctional molecules including VE-cadherin and β-catenin.
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All layers matter: Innovative three-dimensional epithelium-stroma-endothelium intestinal model for reliable permeability outcomes. J Control Release 2021; 341:414-430. [PMID: 34871636 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.11.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Drug development is an ever-growing field, increasingly requesting reliable in vitro tools to speed up early screening phases, reducing the need for animal experiments. In oral delivery, understanding the absorption pattern of a new drug in the small intestine is paramount. Classical two-dimensional (2D) in vitro models are generally too simplistic and do not accurately represent native tissues. The main goal of this work was to develop an advanced three-dimensional (3D) in vitro intestinal model to test absorption in a more reliable manner, by better mimicking the native environment. The 3D model is composed of a collagen-based stromal layer with embedded fibroblasts mimicking the intestinal lamina propria and providing support for the epithelium, composed of enterocytes and mucus-secreting cells. An endothelial layer, surrogating the absorptive capillary network, is also present. The cellular crosstalk between the different cells present in the model is unveiled, disclosing key players, namely those involved in the contraction of collagen by fibroblasts. The developed 3D model presents lower levels of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and Multidrug Resistance Protein 2 (MRP2) efflux transporters, which are normally overexpressed in traditional Caco-2 models, and are paramount in the absorption of many compounds. This, allied with transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) values closer to physiological ranges, leads to improved and more reliable permeability outcomes, which are observed when comparing our results with in vivo data.
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8
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Eckert J, van Loon JJWA, Eng LM, Schmidt T. Hypergravity affects cell traction forces of fibroblasts. Biophys J 2021; 120:773-780. [PMID: 33657362 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells sense and react on changes of the mechanical properties of their environment and, likewise, respond to external mechanical stress applied to them. However, whether the gravitational field as overall body force modulates cellular behavior is unclear. Different studies demonstrated that micro- and hypergravity influences the shape and elasticity of cells, initiate cytoskeleton reorganization, and influence cell motility. All these cellular properties are interconnected and contribute to forces that cells apply on their surrounding microenvironment. Yet, studies that investigated changes of cell traction forces under hypergravity conditions are scarce. Here, we performed hypergravity experiments on 3T3 fibroblast cells using the large-diameter centrifuge at the European Space Agency - European Space Research and Technology Centre. Cells were exposed to hypergravity of up to 19.5 g for 16 h in both the upright and the inverted orientation with respect to the g-force vector. We observed a decrease in cellular traction forces when the gravitational field was increased up to 5.4 g, followed by an increase of traction forces for higher gravity fields up to 19.5 g independent of the orientation of the gravity vector. We attribute the switch in cellular response to shear thinning at low g-forces, followed by significant rearrangement and enforcement of the cytoskeleton at high g-forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Eckert
- Physics of Life Processes, Leiden Institute of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands; School of Science, Department of Physics, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Life & Physical Science, Instrumentation and Life Support Laboratory, ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands
| | - Jack J W A van Loon
- Life & Physical Science, Instrumentation and Life Support Laboratory, ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands; Dutch Experiment Support Centre, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Oral Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VUmc & Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lukas M Eng
- School of Science, Department of Physics, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmidt
- Physics of Life Processes, Leiden Institute of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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9
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The effect of hypergravity in intestinal permeability of nanoformulations and molecules. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2021; 163:38-48. [PMID: 33785416 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2021.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The oral administration of drugs remains a challenge due to rapid enzymatic degradation and minimal absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Mechanical forces, namely hypergravity, can interfere with cellular integrity and drug absorption, and there is no study describing its influence in the intestinal permeability. In this work, it was studied the effect of hypergravity on intestinal Caco-2 cells and its influence in the intestinal permeability of different nanoformulations and molecules. It was shown that the cellular metabolic activity and integrity were maintained after exposure to different gravity-levels (g-levels). Expression of important drug transporters and tight junctions' proteins was evaluated and, most proteins demonstrated a switch of behavior in their expression. Furthermore, paracellular transport of FITC-Dextran showed to significantly increase with hypergravity, which agrees with the decrease of transepithelial electrical resistance and the increase of claudin-2 at higher g-levels. The diffusion of camptothecin released from polymeric micelles revealed a significant decrease, which agrees with the increased expression of the P-gp observed with the increase in g-levels, responsible for pumping this drug out. The neonatal Fc receptor-mediated transport of albumin-functionalized nanoparticles loaded with insulin showed no significant changes when increasing the g-levels. Thus, this study supports the effect of hypergravity on intestinal permeability is dependent on the molecule studied and the mechanism by which it is absorbed in the intestine.
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Bailey DM, Lanéelle D, Trihan JE, Marchi N, Stacey BS, Tamiya K, Washio T, Tuaillon E, Hirtz C, Lehmann S, Ogoh S, Normand H. Gravitational Transitions Increase Posterior Cerebral Perfusion and Systemic Oxidative-nitrosative Stress: Implications for Neurovascular Unit Integrity. Neuroscience 2020; 441:142-160. [PMID: 32502571 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.05.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The present study examined if repeated bouts of micro- and hypergravity during parabolic flight (PF) alter structural integrity of the neurovascular unit (NVU) subsequent to free radical-mediated changes in regional cerebral perfusion. Six participants (5♂, 1♀) aged 29 ± 11 years were examined before, during and after a 3 h PF and compared to six sex and age-matched (27 ± 6 years) normogravity controls. Blood flow was measured in the anterior (middle cerebral artery, MCA; internal carotid artery, ICA) and posterior (vertebral artery, VA) circulation (duplex ultrasound) in-flight over the course of 15 parabolas. Venous blood was assayed for free radicals (electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy), nitric oxide (NO, ozone-based chemiluminescence) and NVU integrity (chemiluminescence/ELISA) in normogravity before and after exposure to 31 parabolas. While MCA velocity did not change (P > 0.05), a selective increase in VA flow was observed during the most marked gravitational transition from micro- to hypergravity (P < 0.05). Increased oxidative-nitrosative stress defined by a free radical-mediated reduction in NO and elevations in glio-vascular GFAP and S100ß were observed after PF (P < 0.05), the latter proportional to the increase in VA flow (r = 0.908, P < 0.05). In contrast, biomarkers of neuronal-axonal damage (neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament light-chain, ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 and tau) did not change (P > 0.05). Collectively, these findings suggest that the cumulative effects of repeated gravitational transitions may promote minor blood-brain barrier disruption, potentially related to the combined effects of haemodynamic (posterior cerebral hyperperfusion) and molecular (systemic oxidative-nitrosative) stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian M Bailey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Glamorgan, UK.
| | - Damien Lanéelle
- Service de Médecine Vasculaire, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire, Caen, France; UNICAEN, INSERM, COMETE, GIP CYCERON, Normandie University, Caen, France
| | - Jean-Eudes Trihan
- Service de Médecine Vasculaire, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Nicola Marchi
- UMR, Laboratory of Cerebrovascular and Glia Research, Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Functional Genomics (CNRS Unit Mixte de Recherche 5203; INSERM U1191), University of Montpellier, France
| | - Benjamin S Stacey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Glamorgan, UK
| | - Kazuki Tamiya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Toyo University, Kawagoe-Shi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Takuro Washio
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Toyo University, Kawagoe-Shi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Edouard Tuaillon
- Unit Mixte de Recherche, INSERM l'Etablissement Français du Sang, University of Montpellier 1, Montpellier, France
| | - Christophe Hirtz
- LBPC-PPC, University of Montpellier, Institute of Regenerative Medicine-Biotherapy IRMB, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Sylvain Lehmann
- LBPC-PPC, University of Montpellier, Institute of Regenerative Medicine-Biotherapy IRMB, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Shigehiko Ogoh
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Glamorgan, UK; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Toyo University, Kawagoe-Shi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hervé Normand
- UNICAEN, INSERM, COMETE, GIP CYCERON, Normandie University, Caen, France; UNICAEN, COMETE, Caen, France; INSERM, U 1075 COMETE, Caen, France; Department of Clinical Physiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen, Caen, France
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Hypergravity Activates a Pro-Angiogenic Homeostatic Response by Human Capillary Endothelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072354. [PMID: 32231163 PMCID: PMC7177524 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Capillary endothelial cells are responsible for homeostatic responses to organismic and environmental stimulations. When malfunctioning, they may cause disease. Exposure to microgravity is known to have negative effects on astronauts’ physiology, the endothelium being a particularly sensitive organ. Microgravity-related dysfunctions are striking similar to the consequences of sedentary life, bed rest, and ageing on Earth. Among different countermeasures implemented to minimize the effects of microgravity, a promising one is artificial gravity. We examined the effects of hypergravity on human microvascular endothelial cells of dermal capillary origin (HMEC-1) treated at 4 g for 15 min, and at 20 g for 15 min, 3 and 6 h. We evaluated cell morphology, gene expression and 2D motility and function. We found a profound rearrangement of the cytoskeleton network, dose-dependent increase of Focal Adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation and Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) expression, suggesting cell stiffening and increased proneness to motility. Transcriptome analysis showed expression changes of genes associated with cardiovascular homeostasis, nitric oxide production, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Hypergravity-treated cells also showed significantly improved motility and function (2D migration and tube formation). These results, expanding our knowledge about the homeostatic response of capillary endothelial cells, show that adaptation to hypergravity has opposite effect compared to microgravity on the same cell type.
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12
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Effects of centrifugation and whole-body vibrations on blood-brain barrier permeability in mice. NPJ Microgravity 2020; 6:1. [PMID: 31934612 PMCID: PMC6946672 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-019-0094-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Modifications of gravity levels induce generalized adaptation of mammalian physiology, including vascular, brain, muscle, bone and immunity functions. As a crucial interface between the vascular system and the brain, the blood–brain barrier (BBB) acts as a filter to protect neurons from pathogens and inflammation. Here we compare the effects of several protocols of hypergravity induced by centrifugation and whole-body vibrations (WBV) on BBB integrity. The immunohistochemistry revealed immunoglobulin G (IgG) extravasation from blood to hippocampal parenchyma of mice centrifuged at 2 × g during 1 or 50 days, whereas short exposures to higher hypergravity mimicking the profiles of spaceflight landing and take-off (short exposures to 5 × g) had no effects. These results suggest prolonged centrifugation (>1 days) at 2 × g induced a BBB leakage. Moreover, WBV were similarly tested. The short exposure to +2 × g vibrations (900 s/day at 90 Hz) repeated for 63 days induced IgG extravasation in hippocampal parenchyma, whereas the progressive increase of vibrations from +0.5 to +2 × g for 63 days was not able to affect the IgG crossing through the BBB. Overall, these results suggest that the BBB permeability is sensitive to prolonged external accelerations. In conclusion, we advise that the protocols of WBV and centrifugation, proposed as countermeasure to spaceflight, should be designed with progressively increasing exposure to reduce potential side effects on the BBB.
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Woodcock EM, Girvan P, Eckert J, Lopez-Duarte I, Kubánková M, van Loon JJWA, Brooks NJ, Kuimova MK. Measuring Intracellular Viscosity in Conditions of Hypergravity. Biophys J 2019; 116:1984-1993. [PMID: 31053255 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gravity-sensitive cellular responses are regularly observed in both specialized and nonspecialized cells. One potential mechanism for this sensitivity is a changing viscosity of the intracellular organelles. Here, we report a novel, to our knowledge, viscosity-sensitive molecular rotor based on mesosubstituted boron-dipyrrin used to investigate the response of viscosity of cellular membranes to hypergravity conditions created at the large diameter centrifuge at the European Space Agency Technology Centre. Mouse osteoblastic (MC3T3-E1) and endothelial (human umbilical vein endothelial cell) cell lines were tested, and an increase in viscosity was found with increasing hypergravity loading. This response is thought to be primarily biologically driven, with the potential for a small, instantaneous physical mechanism also contributing to the observed effect. This work provides the first, to our knowledge, quantitative data for cellular viscosity changes under hypergravity, up to 15 × g.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma M Woodcock
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Girvan
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Eckert
- Department of Physics, School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; European Space Agency Technology Centre, TEC-MMG LIS Lab, Noordwijk, the Netherlands
| | - Ismael Lopez-Duarte
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Markéta Kubánková
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jack J W A van Loon
- European Space Agency Technology Centre, TEC-MMG LIS Lab, Noordwijk, the Netherlands; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Oral Pathology, Dutch Experiment Support Centre, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nicholas J Brooks
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Marina K Kuimova
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom.
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14
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Kim D, Kwon S. Mechanical load increase-induced changes in cytoskeletal structure and cellular barrier function in human cerebral endothelial cells. Biotechnol Bioeng 2018; 115:2624-2631. [PMID: 29896880 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Globally, approximately a billion patients are estimated to suffer from neurological disorders. Although there are many therapeutic candidates for the central nervous system, treatment of brain disorders is restricted by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is a highly selective membrane that protects the brain from exogenous substances. This study was undertaken to develop a novel strategy to overcome the BBB and improve the efficiency of drug delivery to the brain by mechanical load increase using hypergravity. Human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells were exposed three times to 20 min hypergravity (10g), with a 20-min rest period between each exposure. The applied hypergravity reversibly decreased the cellular metabolic activity and increased the permeation rate of fluorescein sodium salt, fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran (FD-4), and fluorescein-labeled jacalin. Following the exposure to hypergravity, we also observed structural changes of the cytoskeleton and tight junctions, and an alteration in the expression levels of related genes. These results indicate that increased mechanical load due to the applied hypergravity affects the cytoskeletal arrangement and tight junctions, thereby weakening the cell barrier function and enhancing the permeability of the paracellular pathway. Thus, the mechanical load increase by hypergravity has the potential of being used as a novel strategy to overcome the BBB for brain drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongjoo Kim
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Soonjo Kwon
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea
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15
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Costa-Almeida R, Granja PL, Gomes ME. Gravity, Tissue Engineering, and the Missing Link. Trends Biotechnol 2018; 36:343-347. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2017.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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16
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The covalently immobilized antimicrobial peptide LL37 acts as a VEGF mimic and stimulates endothelial cell proliferation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 496:887-890. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.01.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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17
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Costa-Almeida R, Carvalho DTO, Ferreira MJS, Aresta G, Gomes ME, van Loon JJWA, Van der Heiden K, Granja PL. Effects of hypergravity on the angiogenic potential of endothelial cells. J R Soc Interface 2017; 13:rsif.2016.0688. [PMID: 28334696 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2016.0688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis, the formation of blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is a key event in pathology, including cancer progression, but also in homeostasis and regeneration. As the phenotype of endothelial cells (ECs) is continuously regulated by local biomechanical forces, studying endothelial behaviour in altered gravity might contribute to new insights towards angiogenesis modulation. This study aimed at characterizing EC behaviour after hypergravity exposure (more than 1g), with special focus on cytoskeleton architecture and capillary-like structure formation. Herein, human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) were cultured under two-dimensional and three-dimensional conditions at 3g and 10g for 4 and 16 h inside the large diameter centrifuge at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) of the European Space Agency. Although no significant tendency regarding cytoskeleton organization was observed for cells exposed to high g's, a slight loss of the perinuclear localization of β-tubulin was observed for cells exposed to 3g with less pronounced peripheral bodies of actin when compared with 1g control cells. Additionally, hypergravity exposure decreased the assembly of HUVECs into capillary-like structures, with a 10g level significantly reducing their organization capacity. In conclusion, short-term hypergravity seems to affect EC phenotype and their angiogenic potential in a time and g-level-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Costa-Almeida
- 3B's Research Group-Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Daniel T O Carvalho
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,FEUP-Faculade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel J S Ferreira
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,FEUP-Faculade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Guilherme Aresta
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,FEUP-Faculade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Manuela E Gomes
- 3B's Research Group-Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Jack J W A van Loon
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Oral Pathology, VU-University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,ESTEC, TEC-MMG-Lab, European Space Agency (ESA), Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | - Kim Van der Heiden
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, ErasmusMC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pedro L Granja
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal .,INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,FEUP-Faculade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
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